By Sharon McDowell Most American consumers have enjoyed the convenience of using debit cards for sales transactions since the 1990s. With the introduction of chip technology in 2014, tap-and-go payments and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay have made transactions easier. But these conveniences also increase exposure of consumers’ personal information to data […]
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By Sharon McDowell Several years ago, we published an article in this series focused on scams and how increased cell phone use for essential tasks leave us especially vulnerable to all types of cyber scams. “Scams Are on the Rise: How to Stay Safe” contains valuable information about cyber security that is still relevant, given […]
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On days when your facilities aren’t in use, it’s easy to default to an “out of sight, out of mind” mindset. But there’s a lot of risk involved in getting too comfortable. Here, two church insurance experts discuss the biggest exposures for unoccupied church buildings — and how to mitigate those risks. Church Executive: […]
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The line between security and convenience can be challenging to navigate. I frequently speak with pastors and ministry leaders about how to protect an organization while still empowering users to accomplish their mission. The more secure you are, the less convenient it is for the users. The more convenient it is for the users, […]
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Church Executive: Just how big of an issue is employee theft in churches, really? Mike Nester: I wouldn’t say it’s one of the larger issues that our churches are dealing with, but it’s one of the easiest to work on. That said, we do see losses; we’ve had more than $1 million in claims […]
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By Sharon McDowell Your cell phone dings. It’s a text message from an unknown number. The message is from a service company warning that your account has been hacked and urging you to call them right away. The landline rings. The person on the other side of the line tells you the electricity is going […]
Read More >Has anyone in your church ever received a request for money in an email that appeared to be from your pastor, but was actually a scam? Or, have you ever learned about a security breach that could compromise your members’ financial information? These days, most large corporations are making significant technology investments to stay ahead […]
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Many houses of worship contain valuable art, artifacts and other treasures. While these items often are imbued with deep spiritual meaning, the untrained eye might not recognize them as assets requiring protection. That creates risk — not just from the threat of human wrongdoing, but from Mother Nature as well. Art and artifacts are always […]
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Sexual Abuse Risk and Third-Party Use of Facilities By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris BOY SCOUTS SETTLEMENT FUND EXCEEDS $2.6 BILLION Not every organization has chartered or hosted a Boy Scout Troop, but every organization with physical facilities must learn the lessons stemming from this massive child sexual abuse settlement. Third-party use of facilities can […]
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By Craig Huss Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 73% of religious organizations accepted online donations. Today, 93% of religious organizations with more than 100 members offer online giving, and nearly half of organizations with fewer than 50 members provide the option. That’s good news for churches who want to use Giving Tuesday (and the upcoming […]
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